Federal and State Laws: Animal Welfare & Food Safety

Compassion Over Killing’s undercover investigation inside Central Valley Meat reveals what we believe to be numerous violations of federal laws and regulations relating to animal welfare and food safety as well as state anti-cruelty laws. Our documentation exposes:

the repeated use of electric prods and physical force (lifting cows by their tails) of animals too sick or injured to walk, commonly referred to in the meat industry as “downers,” in an effort to get them to stand and walk;

excessive use of electric prods and other devices to force animals to move faster (or in the right direction) in the chutes leading to the kill floor; and

improper stunning prior to slaughter resulting in animals kicking and struggling as they’re being hoisted by a chain wrapped around one of their legs.

Federal Laws and Regulations

“When an establishment offers for slaughter recumbent livestock for ante-mortem inspection, the establishment may help an animal that is capable of rising by providing the animal support (e.g., providing a steadying hand). Such support may not be by mechanical means, nor is the establishment permitted to lift the animal in any way.”

“The establishment must treat the animal humanely when attempting to have it rise or ambulate. FSIS does not consider forcing an animal to stand or ambulate by kicking or prodding (e.g., electrical prodding) to be humane.”

”No method of slaughtering or handling in connection with slaughtering shall be deemed to comply with the public policy of the United States unless it is humane. Either of the following two methods of slaughtering and handling are hereby found to be humane:

(a) in the case of cattle … all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or
(b) by slaughtering in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith …

“Driving of livestock from the unloading ramps to the holding pens and from the holding pens to the stunning area shall be done with a minimum of excitement and discomfort to the animals. Livestock shall not be forced to move faster than a normal walking speed.”

“Electric prods, canvas slappers, or other implements employed to drive animals shall be used as little as possible in order to minimize excitement and injury. Any use of such implements which, in the opinion of the inspector, is excessive, is prohibited.”

“The animals shall be stunned in such a manner that they will be rendered unconscious with a minimum of excitement and discomfort.”

“The stunning operation is an exacting procedure and requires a well-trained and experienced operator. He must be able to accurately place the stunning instrument to produce immediate unconsciousness.”

California State Law

“…every person who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or wounds a living animal, or maliciously and intentionally kills an animal … is, for every such offense, guilty of a crime …”

“…every person who…tortures, torments… cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal, or causes or procures any animal to be so…cruelly beaten, mutilated, or cruelly killed; and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal… is, for every such offense, guilty of a crime…”